Design

The Mitsubishi G4M was designed by Kiro Honjo in 1937 to meet a requirement for a long range land bomber for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
It was to fly at 9,845'/10,000' at 247/250 mph and have a range of 2,300/2,302 miles while carrying a torpedo.

Initially the Navy called for engines with 1,000 HP each, but it was found that they wouldn't be able to power the aircraft to meet the performance requirements. A pair of Mitsubishi Kasei 14 cylinder engines were fitted.

To save weight for the addition of fuel, the G4M had no armor to protect it's fuel tanks. It carried 1,078 gallons of fuel in the wings.

Cockpit

The pilots sat next to each other in the cockpit and had an escape hatch in the roof. The navigator was below and to the rear of them.

Vulnerable Fuel Tanks

After starting to attack Port Moresby, New Guinea the G4M1s started to encure greater losses as Allied fighters were more prevelant than before. This lead to the need for better protected fuel tanks.

G4M2

Had the blisters on the sides of the fuselage removed. These were replaced by a turret on the top of the fuselage.